39

DU Journal of Undergraduate Research and Innovation

Volume 1, Issue 3 pp 39-48, 2015

Assessment of Physico-Chemical

Properties of Contaminated Soil Samples

From Yamuna Riverbed K. Mandal

1*, S. Vyas

2, C. Chandra

3, Ankur

4, J. Yadav

5

kalpamandal@gmail.com, 1,3 Assistant Professor, Dept of Chemistry, Dyal Singh

College, University of Delhi., 2 Assistant Research Officer, Central Soils and,

Materials Research Station,, NewDelhi., 4,5, Undergraduate Students, Dyal Singh

College, University of Delhi.

ABSTRACT

With the increase of urbanization and industrializations the metro cities are going to

be worst affected. The load of sewage and industrial pollutants not only pollute the

riverbeds and landfills sites but also contaminate the large area surrounding them

causing health as well as construction hazards. Effluents from most of the major

industries and domestic sewage directly enters in to Yamuna river, constantly altering

the physical and chemical nature of surrounding water and soil. The entire stretch of

river Yamuna in Delhi segment is highly polluted due to heavy sewage load .The

polluted run off which contain acidic and basic contaminants along with complex

organic constitutes and heavy metals certainly alter the geotechnical properties of soil.

The soil pollutant interactions results in to change in physico-chemical and

engineering properties of the surrounding soil environment. The contaminated soil

samples were collected from different locations along the Yamuna riverbed and

analyzed for chemical and physical parameters. Results shown so far reflects the effect

of pollutants on the chemical properties of the soil with particular reference to change

in soil pH , total soluble salt contents (TSS), salinity, cation exchange capacity (CEC),

water soluble chloride and water soluble sulphate and organic matter contents. The

physical and chemical properties of soils are also reported to be deviate compare to

blank soil samples.

This study was the part of Innovation project conducted by research team from

University of Delhi under guidance of scientists of Central soil and materials research

station, New Delhi

Keywords: Soil contamination, Yamuna riverbed, Physico-chemical properties,

Geotechnical property.

40

INTRODUCTION

Pollution is one of the most challenging problems of today‘s era. It draws major

public attention and is the result of industrialization, modernization and technological

advancement in all fields of life in the global world. Air, Water, Soil, all have been

adversely affected due to pollution. Unorganized, indiscriminate and unscientific

dumping of wastes is very common disposal method in the Indian cities which cause

adverse impacts to the environment. Sewage and domestic waste materials from

different sources end up at dumpsites and due to the heterogeneity and complexity of

wastes, these dumpsites contain a variety of contaminants which pollute the soil of the

area.

The increasing pollution level of river Yamuna in Delhi pose a serious threat to health as

well as durability of various infrastructure projects along the river bed. Forecasting,

analyzing and solving the geotechnical problems involving the influence of different

types of contamination is emerging as a mandatory approach for accurate investigations.

The release of pollutants from various industries influence the physical, chemical and

engineering properties of soil .

The effect on chemical properties of soil after interaction with pollutants results into

change in acidic and alkaline behavior, leaching of toxic cations, flocculation and

deflocculation, salinity, ,salt contents, organic matter and mineralogy. The index

properties of soils related to its strength characteristics are to be correlated with

chemical changes.

The River Yamuna

The river Yamuna flows through National capital region covers 22 km of rout with 18

drains directly open in to the river stream converting Yamuna in to world most

polluted river.

Usually no water or extremely little water is allowed to flow downstream of

Wazirabad barrage during lean seasons. From Wazirabad to Okhla barrage the 22 km

stretch is known as Delhi segment. (Table-I and Figure.I). The Najafgarh drain which

open in to river just after the Wazirabad barrage is considered as the most polluted

segment of the Yamuna River. Beyond the Okhla barrage whatever water flow in

Yamuna River is the domestic and industrial waste water generated from east Delhi,

Noida and Sahibabad and joins the river through Shahdara drain.

Table-I Different Segments of River Yamuna

River Segment Segment Area Segment Length

Himalayan Segment From Origin to Tajewala

Barrage

172 Km

Upper Segment From Tajewala Barrage to

Wazirabad Barrage

224 Km

Delhi Segment From Wazirabad to Okhla

Barrage

22 Km

Eutrophicated Segment From Okhla Barrgage to

Chambal Confluence

490 Km

41

Diluted Segment Chambal Confluence to

Ganga Confluence

468 Km

The pollution menace

Delhi has been identified with 26 industrial areas contributing their load to the river

Yamuna. The river has been getting a large amount of partially treated and untreated

wastewater during its course through National Capital Territory (NCT) of

Delhi,( Figure II and III).

The biological system of the river is completely destroyed and mixing of different

inorganic and organic chemicals makes Yamuna water a complex chemical matrix

which ultimately leads to changes in the compositions of the surrounding soil and

ground water. The toxic effect of chemicals not only disturb the biotic components

but also effect various structures developed along the Yamuna river bed.

The effect on chemical properties of soil after interaction with pollutants results in

change in acidic and alkaline behavior, leaching of toxic cations, flocculation and

deflocculation, salinity, ,salt contents, organic matter and mineralogy.

Figure.1 Route map of river Yamuna

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) the water quality of

Yamuna River falls under the category ―E‖ which makes it fit only for recreation and

industrial cooling, completely ruling out the possibility for under-water life . The

pollution of the Yamuna River from domestic discharges from Delhi, Ghaziabad,

42

Noida, Faridabad, Mathura and Agra has rendered the river unfit for any use.

Yamuna‘s water quality in the Himalayan segment and in the segment after

confluence with the Chambal river is relatively better. In Delhi around 3296 MLD

(million litres per day) of sewage by virtue of drains out falling in Yamuna and

approximately 3.5 lakh people live in the 62000 ‗Jhuggis‘ that have come up on the

Yamuna river bed and its embankment.

Figure-II and III Showing Pollution of Yamuna River

METHODOLOGY

Based on comprehensive field survey various locations have been selected in NCT

region of Delhi and collected contaminated and blank soil samples. In the first phase

of study, area along Yamuna river bank. stretched up to 20 km in NCR was chosen.

Table-II Location of the Sampling Points

Sample.

No.

Sampling Location

S-1 Up Stream of Wazirabad Barrage , Jagatpur Village ( R/B)

S-2. Down Stream Wazirabad Barrage, Left Bank ( L/B)

S-3 Blank soil sample from 300 meter away from down stream Wazirabad

Barrage

S-4 ITO barrage, Down Stream , ( R/B)

S-5 Blank soil sample from 300 meter away from down stream ITO

Barrage

S-6 Blank soil sample from 300 meter away from down streamNizamuddin

Barrage

S-7 OkhlaBarrge, Down Stream, (R/B), KalindiKunj

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VISUAL OBSERVATION

44

Fig.IV-XIII Showing sampling and in situ testing

The work has been performed in the laboratories of Chemistry department of Dyal

Singh College, University of Delhi as well as in the laboratories of Central soil and

materials research station (CSMRS), Ministry of water resources, New Delhi .The

sample collected were analyzed for their physico-chemical properties using different

volumetric, gravimetric and instrumental analytical procedures as per BIS, ASTM

standards. (Table III and IV)

Table-III

CHEMICAL PARAMETERS

IS: CODE

pH IS:2720-1987

Total soluble salts IS:2720, part-27

Water soluble Sulphate IS:2720-1977

Water soluble Chloride BS codes

Organic Matter IS:2720, part-22, -1972

Calcium Carbonate IS:2720-1976

Cation Exchange capacity

( CEC)

IS:2720-1976

45

Table-IV

ENGINEERING

PARAMETERS

IS :CODE

Methods of test for soils

Preparation of dry soil samples

for various tests

IS 2720 : Part I : 1972

Soil Classification IS:1498-1970

Mechanical Analysis (Particle

size distribution)

IS:2720, part-4,1975

Atterbergs Limit IS:2720, part-5-1979

Compaction test IS: 2720 ,Part 8) – 1983

Relative density test IS: 2720 ,Part 14) - 1983

Soil Permeability IS:2720, part-17-1985

Shear Strength IS: 2720,Part 11-1971

Specific Gravity IS:2720

Sampl

e No.

Sampling Location pH Conduc

tivity

µmhos/

cm

Salinity

%

Calciu

m

Carbo

nate

Conten

t

%

Organi

c

Matter

% by

wt.

Water

soluble

Chloride

% by

wt.

Water

soluble

sulpha

te

% by

wt

Cati

on

exch

ange

capa

city

meq/

100

gram

S-1 Up Stream of

Wazirabad Barrage ,

Jagatpur Village ( R/B)

7.

35

105 0.1 1.5 0.15 0.02 0.015 7.0

S-2.

Down Stream Wazirabad Barrage,

Left Bank ( L/B)

7.

38

185 0.1 2.5 0.39 0.038 0.030 6.0

S-3 Blank soil sample

from 300 meter away

from down stream

Wazirabad Barrage

7.

40

89 0.1 2.0 0.20 0.035 0.028 12.

5

S-4

ITO barrage, Down

Stream , ( R/B)

7.

82

402 0.4 5.0 4.06 0.099 0.110 9.8

S-5. Blank soil sample

from 300 meter away

from down stream up

stream ITO Barrage

7.

50

135 0.1 4.0 0.48 0.042 0.057 10.

6

46

Table-V Chemical analysis of soil samples from Yamuna river bed

The results of chemical analysis of contaminated soils are presented in Table V

Figure- XIV: Mechanical analysis results of Down Stream Wazirabad Barrage,

Left Bank ( L/B) S-4 and blank soil sample ( S-5)

Figue-XV: Mechanical analysis results of ITO barrage down stream ( R/B)

S-13 and blank soil sample ( S-14)

S-6 Blank soil sample

from 300 meter away

from down stream

Nizamuddin Barrage

7.

61

150 0.2 3.5 0.73 0.003 0.047 16.

4

S-7 Okhala Barrage, Down

Stream, (R/B), Kalindi

Kunj

8.

69

555 0.6 7.2 6.0 0.152 0.162 8.9

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10

PE

RC

EN

T F

INE

R

GRAIN SIZE (MM)

CONTAMINATED SOIL BLANK SOIL

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10

PE

RC

EN

T F

INE

R

GRAIN SIZE (MM)

CONTAMINATED SOIL BLANK SOIL

47

Figure-XVI Showing Decreasing Trends of Engineering Properties from

Wazirabad to Okhla.

DISCUSSION

The results presented in Table-V shows that there an increasing pattern of

concentration of various chemical parameters starting from Wazirabad to Okhla

barrage. The value of pH is shows mostly alkaline nature. The increase in total

soluble salts contents was also observed. The similar trends were also observed for

other parameters. Which might be due to increasing pollutant concentration down

stream of Wazirabad.

The results of Mechanical properties of contaminated soils are presented in figure.

XIV and XV. It was observed that particle size of contaminated soils will shifts

towards more finer fractions compare to blank soil samples. The soil pollutant

interactions leads to weathering actions which finally changes the mineralogical

compositions of contaminated soils.

The effect of change in chemical environment due to pollutants also results in to

decreasing strength properties of soils. The reducing trend was observed for various

engineering properties from Wazirabad to Okhla as presented in figure-XVI.

The strength characteristics of soil are affected extensively due to change in soil‘s

internal structure and mineralogy.

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CONCLUSION

The results shows that the effect of different contaminants are quite significant in

form of change in pH, total soluble salt content, organic matter, water soluble

sulphate and water soluble chloride contents. Due to the leaching of cations and

deflocculation the consistency characteristics of the soil is also reduced.

The strength characteristics of soil are affected extensively due to change in soil‘s

internal structure and mineralogy.

The data obtained during the experiments is an indication that alteration in soil properties

due to pollutants must be assessed for drawing safe design criteria for upcoming civil

engineering structures along Yamuna riverbed and also helps in assessing possible

deterioration of existing structures.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The research works were carried out at Laboratories of Central soil and materials

research station, New Delhi and Department of chemistry Dyal Singh college,

University of Delhi. We are thankful to Director CSMRS for providing laboratory

facility and other technical guidance. The cooperation received from scientists and

staff of CSMRS was commendable. The authors are also thankful to Principal Dyal

Singh College for extending all cooperation during the entire work. The idea of

Innovative research projects for undergraduate students was highly appreciable in

terms of an opportunity for students to explore themselves for research work.

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[3] Kamon Masashi, Ying Changyun and Katsumi Takeshi, (1997). Effect of

acidification on physico-chemical and engineering properties of soils, Japanese

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[4] Yamaguchi H, Ui M, Fukuda M and Kuroshima I, (1993). Change in

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